We just had an article mentioned on this list that reported on a Capitol Hill briefing on the lack of toxicity training in U.S. Chemistry degree programs. In order for chemistry students to read an SDS unless they first have a basic understanding of toxicology, e.g., LD50s, acute/chronic, routes of entry, and all of that is crucial to their education. I found an easy source for that article.

I usually sum up this problem for the art and theater students with a couplet:

Chemists know all about what happens when chemical A is mixed with Chemical B.

Chemists are clueless about what happens when Chemical A is mixed with me.

I also have a 7 page section by section explanation of the SDS with definitions of all of the common terminology that I leave with art and theater people so they can use it when they go through an SDS. Training alone is not going to do it. They need a glossary and guide.

Over the past 25 years I've heard a lot of anecdotal stories about (chemical industry) supervisors lamenting that their straight-out-of-college new hires have not been taught basic laboratory safety principles. Similarly, I know a lot
of chemists who reported a "rude awakening" when they started their first job and realized they knew a lot about textbook chemistry principles/theory, but knew essentially nothing about how to read and interpret a SDS/MSDS or how to select an appropriate chemical-resistant
glove.

If you're aware of any reputable journal article, news story (think C&EN, etc.) that addresses this specific topic, please let me know the reference. I'm particularly interested in any piece wherein an industry leader (BASF, Dow, DuPont,
Monsanto, Huntsman, etc.) has issued a clarion call (or plea) for higher education to improve their efforts to train future graduates in the basics of laboratory and chemical safety.

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